Rule 16.406 In camera inspection

If a judge needs to privately review certain material to decide on a legal issue, that material can be submitted to the court electronically instead of on paper. This kind of private review is called an "in camera inspection."

After the judge looks at the material and makes a decision about it, one of two things happens. If the judge decides the material should be shared with the parties in the case (in full or in part), that part gets released. But if the judge decides the material should not be shared, it still gets filed with the court. However, access to that material is locked down so that only clerks of court and judges can see it. This keeps sensitive information private while still keeping an official record of what was reviewed.